Michael Kors

Michael Kors, the website is www. michaelkors. com. The corporate head office is located in New York City 11w 42nd St. , New York NY 10018. The phone number is 1-800-908-1157, FAX 646-354-4730. Michael Kors is a worldwide company. John Idol is the chief executive officer of the Michael Kors company. There isn’t an exact number of employees working at this company for 2013 but for 2012 there was 418,000. The Michael Kors company was founded in 1981. The company’s mission statement is to â€Å"bring our vision of a jet set luxury lifestyle to women and men around the globe†. Michael Kors sells primarily handbags, but also jewellery, clothing and swimwear. It is a luxury business in the fashion industry. Michael Kors has lots of competition, since there are many stores that sell similar products, a couple of these companies are coach, Prada, Gucci, Guess, Marc Jacobs and Louis button. They are competitors because of how similar the merchandise is and how they are all in the fashion luxury sector. Michael Kors has an excellent CSR, they give back in many ways, such as donating too many charities and special causes. Michael Kors has ecently donated 5 million dollars to a non-profit â€Å"god’s love we deliver† the New York based charity organization that provides meals to people living with mental illness. They have also donated 1 million dollar to the hurricane sandy relief fund. Michael kors also has a campaign called â€Å"destination Kors â€Å"which he donates 25$ from every purchase of one of his watches to the national world food program. Some of the charities he is involved in and has worked with are, Aids & HIV, children, conservation, environment, health, hunger, mental challenges and lastly poverty. Michael kors feels very trongly about giving back to his community and helping out the less fortunate, that is a huge aspect in his life, and explains why he is involved with many non-profit organizations looking to help people in need. The current share price for Michael kors is 60. 30. 2012 net income: total sales total revenue 130. 0 billion 636. 8 million 1,302,254,000 2011 net income: total sales: total revenue 72. 51 million 803. 34 803,339,000 2010 net income: total sales: total revenue 39. 25 million 508. 1 million 508,099,000 2009 net income: total sales : total revenue 13. 04 million 397. 7 million 397,074,000 Michael kors is a very popular brand which automatically in my opinion makes it a smart to invest in the company because of how successful and rich the company already is. Knowing what I know Michael kors will only get more successful and is an extremely smart investment The target market for Michael kors would be women starting from early teens on. The hand bags, jewelry and clothing attract many high-class women or men who have high income jobs. Michael kors is a luxury brand and is fairly expensive, so most consumers are upscale wealthy people who an afford the prices for the merchandise. Michael kors has a swimsuit line, a line of jewellery, purses and clothing that is always changing according to the latest trends and the consumers wants. The thing that all these lines have in common is that they all have the signature Michael kors logo the â€Å" MK†. The â€Å"MK† is short for Michael kors and is easily recognized. It stands out from other brands. Michael kors has many runway shows and is well recognized in the Fashion world. He also has some commercials. Once again Michael kors is a Luxury company

Forward the Foundation Chapter 15

Part III Dors Venabili VENABILI, DORS-The life of Hari Seldon is well encrusted with legend and uncertainty, so that little hope remains of ever obtaining a biography that can be thoroughly factual. Perhaps the most puzzling aspect of his life deals with his consort, Dors Venabili. There is no information whatever concerning Dors Venabili, except for her birth on the world of Cinna, prior to her arrival at Streeling University to become a member of the history faculty. Shortly after that, she met Seldon and remained his consort for twenty-eight years. If anything, her life is more interlarded with legend than Seldon's is. There are quite unbelievable tales of her strength and speed and she was widely spoken of, or perhaps whispered of, as â€Å"The Tiger Woman.† Still more puzzling than her coming, however, is her going, for after a certain time, we hear of her no more and there is no indication as to what happened. Her role as a historian is evidenced by her works on- Encyclopedia Galactica 1 Wanda was almost eight years old now, going by Galactic Standard Time -as everyone did. She was quite the little lady-grave in manner, with straight light-brown hair. Her eyes were blue but were darkening and she might well end with the brown eyes of her father. She sat there, lost in thought. Sixty. That was the number that preoccupied her. Grandfather was going to have a birthday and it was going to be his sixtieth-and sixty was a large number. It bothered her because yesterday she had had a bad dream about it. She went in search of her mother. She would have to ask. Her mother was not hard to find. She was talking to Grandfather-about the birthday surely. Wanda hesitated. It wouldn't be nice to ask in front of Grandfather. Her mother had no trouble whatever sensing Wanda's consternation. She said, â€Å"One minute, Hari, and let's see what's bothering Wanda. What is it, dear?† Wanda pulled at her hand. â€Å"Not here, Mother. Private.† Manella turned to Hari Seldon. â€Å"See how early it starts? Private lives. Private problems. Of course, Wanda, shall we go to your room?† â€Å"Yes, Mother.† Wanda was clearly relieved. Hand in hand, they went and then her mother said, â€Å"Now what is the problem, Wanda?† â€Å"It's Grandfather, Mother.† â€Å"Grandfather! I can't imagine him doing anything to bother you.† â€Å"Well, he is.† Wanda's eyes filled with sudden tears. â€Å"Is he going to die?† â€Å"Your grandfather? What put that into your head, Wanda?† â€Å"He's going to be sixty. That's so old.† â€Å"No, it isn't. It's not young, but it's not old, either. People live to be eighty, ninety, even a hundred-and your grandfather is strong and healthy. He'll live a long time.† â€Å"Are you sure?† She was sniffing. Manella grasped her daughter by the shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes. â€Å"We must all die someday, Wanda. I've explained that to you before. Just the same, we don't worry about it till the someday is much closer.† She wiped Wanda's eyes gently. â€Å"Grandfather is going to stay alive till you're all grown up and have babies of your own. You'll see. Now come back with me. I want you to talk to Grandfather.† Wanda sniffed again. Seldon looked at the little girl with a sympathetic expression on her return and said, â€Å"What is it, Wanda? Why are you unhappy?† Wanda shook her head. Seldon turned his gaze to the girl's mother. â€Å"Well, what is it, Manella?† Manella shook her head. â€Å"She'll have to tell you herself.† Seldon sat down and tapped his lap. â€Å"Come, Wanda. Have a seat and tell me your troubles.† She obeyed and wriggled a bit, then said, â€Å"I'm scared.† Seldon put his arm around her. â€Å"Nothing to be scared of in your old grandfather.† Manella made a face. â€Å"Wrong word.† Seldon looked up at her. â€Å"Grandfather?† â€Å"No. Old.† That seemed to break the dike. Wanda burst into tears. â€Å"You're old, Grandfather.† â€Å"I suppose so. I'm sixty.† He bent his face down to Wanda's and whispered, â€Å"I don't like it, either, Wanda. That's why I'm glad you're only seven going on eight.† â€Å"Your hair is white, Grandpa.† â€Å"It wasn't always. It just turned white recently.† â€Å"White hair means you're going to die, Grandpa.† Seldon looked shocked. He said to Manella, â€Å"What is all this?† â€Å"I don't know, Hari. It's her own idea.† â€Å"I had a bad dream,† said Wanda. Seldon cleared his throat. â€Å"We all have bad dreams now and then, Wanda. It's good we do. Bad dreams get rid of bad thoughts and then we're better off.† â€Å"It was about you dying, Grandfather.† â€Å"I know. I know. Dreams can be about dying, but that doesn't make them important. Look at me. Don't you see how alive I am-and cheerful-and laughing? Do I look as though I'm dying? Tell me.† â€Å"N-no.† â€Å"There you are, then. Now you go out and play and forget all about this. I'm just having a birthday and everyone will have a good time. Go ahead, dear.† Wanda left in reasonable cheer, but Seldon motioned to Manella to stay. 2 Seldon said, â€Å"Wherever do you think Wanda got such a notion?† â€Å"Come now, Hari. She had a Salvanian gecko that died, remember? One of her friends had a father who died in an accident and she sees deaths on holovision all the time. It is impossible for any child to be so protected as not to be aware of death. Actually I wouldn't want her to be so protected. Death is an essential part of life; she must learn that.† â€Å"I don't mean death in general, Manella. I mean my death in particular. What has put that into her head?† Manella hesitated. She was very fond, indeed, of Hari Seldon. She thought, Who would not be, so how can I say this? But how could she not say this? So she said, â€Å"Hari, you yourself put it into her head.† â€Å"I?† â€Å"Of course, you've been speaking for months of turning sixty and complaining loudly of growing old. The only reason people are setting up this party is to console you.† â€Å"It's no fun turning sixty,† said Seldon indignantly. â€Å"Wait! Wait! You'll find out.† â€Å"I will-if I'm lucky. Some people don't make it to sixty. Just the same, if turning sixty and being old are all you talk about, you end up frightening an impressionable little girl.† Seldon sighed and looked troubled. â€Å"I'm sorry, but it's hard. Look at my hands. They're getting spotted and soon they'll be gnarled. I can do hardly anything in the way of Twisting any longer. A child could probably force me to my knees.† â€Å"In what way does that make you different from other sixty-year-olds? At least your brain is working as well as ever. How often have you said that that's all that counts?† â€Å"I know. But I miss my body.† Manella said with just a touch of malice, â€Å"Especially when Dors doesn't seem to get any older.† Seldon said uneasily, â€Å"Well yes, I suppose-† He looked away, clearly unwilling to talk about the matter. Manella looked at her father-in-law gravely. The trouble was, he knew nothing about children-or about people generally. It was hard to think that he had spent ten years as First Minister under the old Emperor and yet ended up knowing as little about people as he did. Of course, he was entirely wrapped up in this psychohistory of his, that dealt with quadrillions of people, which ultimately meant dealing with no people at all-as individuals. And how could he know about children when he had had no contact with any child except Raych, who had entered his life as a twelve-year-old? Now he had Wanda, who was-and would probably remain to him-an utter mystery. Manella thought all this lovingly. She had the incredible desire to protect Hari Seldon from a world he did not understand. It was the only point at which she and her mother-in-law, Dors Venabili, met and coalesced-this desire to protect Hari Seldon. Manella had saved Seldon's life ten years before. Dors, in her strange way, had considered this an invasion of her prerogative and had never quite forgiven Manella. Seldon, in his turn, had then saved Manella's life. She closed her eyes briefly and the whole scene returned to her, almost as though it were happening to her right now. 3 It was a week after the assassination of Cleon-and a horrible week it had been. All of Trantor was in chaos. Hari Seldon still kept his office as First Minister, but it was clear he had no power. He called in Manella Dubanqua. â€Å"I want to thank you for saving Raych's life and my own. I haven't had a chance to do so yet.† Then with a sigh, â€Å"I have scarcely had a chance to do anything this past week.† Manella asked, â€Å"What happened to the mad gardener?† â€Å"Executed! At once! No trial! I tried to save him by pointing out that he was insane. But there was no question about it. If he had done anything else, committed any other crime, his madness would have been recognized and he would have been spared. Committed-locked up and treated-but spared, nonetheless. But to kill the Emperor-† Seldon shook his head sadly. Manella said, â€Å"What's going to happen now, First Minister?† â€Å"I'll tell you what I think. The Entun Dynasty is finished. Cleon's son will not succeed. I don't think he wants to. He fears assassination in his turn and I don't blame him one bit. It would be much better for him to retire to one of the family estates on some Outer World and live a quiet life. Because he is a member of the Imperial House, he will untie** allowed to do this. You and I may be less fortunate.† Manella frowned. â€Å"In what way, sir?† Seldon cleared his throat. â€Å"It is possible to argue that because you killed Gleb Andorin, he dropped his blaster, which became available to Mandell Gruber, who used it to kill Cleon. Therefore you bear a strong share of the responsibility of the crime and it may even be said that it was all prearranged.† â€Å"But that's ridiculous. I am a member of the security establishment, fulfilling my duties-doing what I was ordered to do.† Seldon smiled sadly. â€Å"You're arguing rationally and rationality is not going to be in fashion for a while. What's going to happen now, in the absence of a legitimate successor to the Imperial throne, is that we are bound to have a military government.† (In later years, when Manella came to understand the workings of psychohistory, she wondered if Seldon had used the technique to work out what was going to happen, for the military rule certainly came to pass. At the time, however, he made no mention of his fledgling theory.) â€Å"If we do have a military government,† he went on, â€Å"then it will be necessary for them to establish a firm rule at once, crush any signs of disaffection, act vigorously and cruelly, even in defiance of rationality and justice. If they accuse you, Miss Dubanqua, of being part of a plot to kill the Emperor, you will be slaughtered, not as an act of justice but as a way of cowing the people of Trantor. â€Å"For that matter, they might say that I was part of the plot, too. After all, I went out to greet the new gardeners when it was not my place to do so. Had I not done so, there would have been no attempt to kill me, you would not have struck back, and the Emperor would have lived. Do you see how it all fits?† â€Å"I can't believe they will do this.† â€Å"Perhaps they won't. I'll make them an offer that, just perhaps, they may not wish to refuse.† â€Å"What would that be?† â€Å"I will offer to resign as First Minister. They don't want me, they won't have me. But the fact is that I do have supporters at the Imperial Court and, even more important, people in the Outer Worlds who find me acceptable. That means that if the members of the Imperial Guard force me out, then even if they don't execute me, they will have some trouble. If, on the other hand, I resign, stating that I believe the military government is what Trantor and the Empire needs, then I actually help them, you see?† He mused a little and said, â€Å"Besides, there is the little matter of psychohistory.† (That was the first time Manella had ever heard the word.) â€Å"What's that?† â€Å"Something I'm working on. Cleon believed in its powers very strongly-more strongly than I did at the time-and there's a considerable feeling in the court that psychohistory is, or might be, a powerful tool that could be made to work on the side of the government-whatever the government might be. â€Å"Nor does it matter if they know nothing about the details of the science. I'd rather they didn't. Lack of knowledge can increase what we might call the superstitious aspect of the situation. In which case, they will let me continue working on my research as a private citizen. At least, I hope so. And that brings me to you.† â€Å"What about me?† â€Å"I'm going to ask as part of the deal that you be allowed to resign from** the security establishment and that no action be taken against you for** the events in connection with the assassination. I ought to be able to â€Å"But you're talking about ending my career.† â€Å"Your career is, in any case, over. Even if the Imperial Guard doesn't up an order of execution against you, can you imagine that you will Be allowed to continue working as a security officer?† â€Å"But what do I do? How do I make a living?† â€Å"I'll take care of that, Miss Dubanqua. In all likelihood, I'll go back to Streeling University, with a large grant for my psychohistorical research, I'm sure that I can find a place for you.† Manella, round-eyed, said, â€Å"Why should you-â€Å" Seldon said, â€Å"I can't believe you're asking. You saved Raych's life and own. Is it conceivable that I don't owe you anything?† And it was as he said. Seldon resigned gracefully from the post he had held for ten years. He was given a fulsome letter of appreciation for his services by the just-formed military government, a junta led by certain members of the Imperial Guard and the armed forces. He returned to Streeling University and Manella Dubanqua, relieved of her own post as security officer, went with Seldon and his family. 4 Raych came in, blowing on his hands. â€Å"I'm all for deliberate variety in the weather. You don't want things under a dome to always be the same. Today though, they made it just a little too cold and worked up a wind, besides. I think it's about time someone complained to weather control.† â€Å"I don't know that it's weather control's fault,† said Seldon. â€Å"It's getting harder to control things in general.† â€Å"I know. Deterioration.† Raych brushed his thick black mustache with the back of his hand. He did that often, as though he had never quite managed to get over the few months during which he had been mustacheless in Wye. He had also put on a little weight around the middle and, overall, had come to seem very comfortable and middleclass. Even his Dahl accent had faded somewhat. He took off his light coverall and said, â€Å"And how's the old birthday boy?† â€Å"Resenting it. Wait, wait, my son. One of these days, you'll be celebrating your fortieth birthday. We'll see how funny you'll think that is.† â€Å"Not as funny as sixty.† â€Å"Stop joking,† said Manella, who had been chafing Raych's hands, trying to warm them. Seldon spread his own hands. â€Å"We're doing the wrong thing, Raych. Your wife is of the opinion that all this talk about my turning sixty has sent little Wanda into a decline over the possibility of my dying.† â€Å"Really?† said Raych. â€Å"That accounts for it, then. I stopped in to see her and she told me at once, before I even had a chance to say a word, that she had had a bad dream. Was it about your dying?† â€Å"Apparently,† said Seldon. â€Å"Well, she'll get over that. No way of stopping bad dreams.† â€Å"I'm not dismissing it that easily,† said Manella. â€Å"She's brooding over it and that's not healthy. I'm going to get to the bottom of this.† â€Å"As you say, Manella,† said Raych agreeably. â€Å"You're my dear wife and whatever you say-about Wanda-goes.† And he brushed his mustache again. His dear wife! It hadn't been so easy to make her his dear wife. Raych remembered his mother's attitude toward the possibility. Talk about nightmares. It was he who had the periodic nightmares in which he had to face down the furious Dors Venabili once more. 5 Raych's first clear memory, after emerging from his desperance-induced ordeal, was that of being shaved. He felt the vibrorazor moving along his cheek and he said weakly, â€Å"Don't cut anywhere near my upper lip, barber. I want my mustache back.† The barber, who had already received his instructions from Seldon held up a mirror to reassure him. Dors Venabili, who was sitting at his bedside, said, â€Å"Let him work, Raych. Don't excite yourself.† Raych's eyes turned toward her momentarily and he was quiet. When the barber left, Dors said, â€Å"How do you feel, Raych?† â€Å"Rotten,† he muttered. â€Å"I'm so depressed, I can't stand it.† â€Å"That's the lingering effect of the desperance you've been dosed with. The effects will wash out.† â€Å"I can't believe it. How long has it been?† â€Å"Never mind. It will take time. You were pumped full of it.† He looked around restlessly. â€Å"Has Manella been to see me?† â€Å"That woman?† (Raych was getting used to hearing Dors speak of Manella with those words and in that tone of voice.) â€Å"No. You're not fit for visitors yet.† Interpreting the look on Raych's face, Dors quickly added, â€Å"I'm an exception because I'm your mother, Raych. Why would you want that woman to see you, anyway? You're in no condition to be seen.† â€Å"All the more reason to see her,† muttered Raych. â€Å"I want her to see me at my worst.† He then turned to one side dispiritedly. â€Å"I want to sleep.† Dors Venabili shook her head. Later that day she said to Seldon â€Å"I don't know what we're going to do about Raych. Hari. He's quite unreasonable.† Seldon said, â€Å"He's not well, Dors. Give the young man a chance.† â€Å"He keeps muttering about that woman. Whatever her name is.† â€Å"Manella Dubanqua. It's not a hard name to remember.† â€Å"I think he wants to set up housekeeping with her. Live with her. Marry her.† Seldon shrugged. â€Å"Raych is thirty-old enough to make up his own mind.† â€Å"As his parents, we have something to say-surely.† Hari sighed. â€Å"And I'm sure you've said it, Dors. And once you've said it, I'm sure he'll do as he wishes.† â€Å"Is that your final word? Do you intend to do nothing while he makes plans to marry a woman like that?† â€Å"What do you expect me to do, Dors? Manella saved Raych's life. Do you expect him to forget that? She saved mine, too, for that matter.† That seemed to feed Dors's anger. She said, â€Å"And you also saved her. The score is even.† â€Å"I didn't exactly-â€Å" â€Å"Of course you did. The military rascals who now run the Empire would have slaughtered her if you didn't step in and sell them your resignation and your support in order to save her.† â€Å"Though I may have evened the score, which I don't think I have, Raych has not. And, Dors dear, I would be very careful when it came to using unfortunate terms to describe our government. These times are not going to be as easy as the times when Cleon ruled and there will always be informers to repeat what they hear you say.† â€Å"Never mind that. I don't like that woman. I presume that, at least, is permissible.† â€Å"Permissible, certainly, but of no use.† Hari looked down at the floor, deep in thought. Dors's usually unfathomable black eyes were positively flashing in anger. Hari looked up. â€Å"What I'd like to know, Dors, is why? Why do you dislike Manella so? She saved our lives. If it had not been for her quick action, both Raych and I would be dead.† Dors snapped back, â€Å"Yes, Hari. I know that better than anyone. And if she had not been there, I would not have been able to do a thing to prevent your murder. I suppose you think I should be grateful. But every time I look at that woman, I am reminded of my failure. I know these feelings are not truly rational-and that is something I can't explain. So do not ask me to like her, Hari. I cannot.† But the next day even Dors had to back down when the doctor said, â€Å"Your son wishes to see a woman named Manella.† â€Å"He's in no condition to see visitors,† snapped Dors. â€Å"On the contrary. He is. He's doing quite well. Besides, he insists and is doing so most strenuously. I don't know that we'd be wise to refuse him.† So they brought in Manella and Raych greeted her effusively and with the first faint sign of happiness since he had arrived at the hospital. He made an unmistakable small gesture of dismissal at Dors. Lips tightened, she left. And the day came when Raych said, â€Å"She'll have me, Mom.† Dors said, â€Å"Do you expect me to be surprised, you foolish man? Of course she'll have you. You're her only chance, now that she's been disgraced, ousted from the security establishment†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Raych said, â€Å"Mom, if you're trying to lose me, this is exactly the way of doing it. Don't say things like that.† â€Å"I'm only thinking of your welfare.† â€Å"I'll think of my own good, thank you. I'm no one's ticket to respectability-if you'll stop to think of it. I'm not exactly handsome. I'm short. Dad isn't First Minister anymore and I talk solid lower-class. What's there for her to be proud of in me? She can do a lot better, but she wants me. And let me tell you, I want her.† â€Å"But you know what she is.† â€Å"Of course I know what she is. She's a woman who loves me. She's the woman I love. That's what she is.† â€Å"And before you fell in love with her, what was she? You know some of what she had to do while undercover in Wye you were one of her ‘assignments.' How many others were there? Are you able to live with her past? With what she did in the name of duty? Now you can afford to be idealistic. But someday you will have your first quarrel with her-or your second or your nineteenth-and you'll break down and say, ‘You-**† Raych shouted angrily, â€Å"Don't say that! When we fight, I'll call her unreasonable, irrational, nagging, whining, inconsiderate-a million adjectives that will fit the situation. And she'll have words for me. But they'll all be sensible words that can be withdrawn when the fight is over.† â€Å"You think so-but just wait till it happens.† Raych had turned white. He said, â€Å"Mother, you've been with Father now for almost twenty years. Father is a hard man to disagree with, but there have been times when you two have argued. I've heard you. In all those twenty years, has he ever called you by any name that would in any way compromise your role as human being? For that matter, have I done so? Can you conceive of me doing so now-no matter how angry I get?† Dors struggled. Her face did not show emotion in quite the same way that Raych's did or Seldon's would, but it was clear that she was momentarily incapable of speech. â€Å"In fact,† said Raych, pushing his advantage (and feeling horrible at doing so) â€Å"the fact of the matter is that you are jealous because Manella saved Dad's life. You don't want anyone to do that but you. Well, you had no chance to do so. Would you prefer it if Manella had not shot Andorin-if Dad had died? And me, too?† Dors said in a choked voice, â€Å"He insisted on going out to meet the gardeners alone. He would not allow me to come.† â€Å"But that wasn't Manella's fault.† â€Å"Is that why you want to marry her? Gratitude?† â€Å"No. Love.† And so it was, but Manella said to Raych after the ceremony, â€Å"Your mother may have attended the wedding because you insisted, Raych, but she looked like one of those thunderclouds they sometimes send sailing under the dome.† Raych laughed. â€Å"She doesn't have the face to be a thundercloud. You're just imagining it.† â€Å"Not at all. How will we ever get her to give us a chance?† â€Å"We'll just be patient. She'll get over it.† But Dors Venabili didn't. Two years after the wedding, Wanda was born. Dors's attitude toward the child was all Raych and Manella could have wanted, but Wanda's mother remained â€Å"that woman† to Raych's mother.

Business Plan - Euroflorida Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

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Mergers and Acquisitions Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

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Policy papr Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Policy papr - Essay Example At the end of it all, one can die very quickly as a result of the diseases. Therefore, a policy to govern the levels of consumption of the junk foods has to be applied in order to ensure that people feed on nutritious foods. One of the effective policies that are effective is that junk foods must be taxed to reduce their consumption. Taxation will make the foods expensive than the nutritious foods. As such, people definitely opt to purchasing nutritious foods, which even if consumed in small quantities, lead to satisfaction. Agreeably, junk foods are cheap to acquire and readily available to the consumers (Matz, 2004). This makes it easy for the low-income earners to acquire them because they cannot afford purchasing nutritious foods. By having the prices of junk foods very high through taxation, positively, obesity will be addressed and decrease at a high percentage of about 15 percent. However, not only should the food be taxed, but also be highly taxed to ensure that the prices rise. However, this will hinder the low earners from purchasing it but for those who can afford, they will continue consuming it. Taxation of junk food will trigger so many factors that will lead to low consumption of calories. When the prices are high, agri-business will be encouraged and there will come up new types of snacks, which contain low levels of calorie. As a result of these new snacks, fattening will reduce at a very high considerable rate. This will prevent the consumers from the bad eating habits of consuming lots of calories and sugar. Through taxation, people will be in a position to consume foods that are affordable and contain low amounts of sugar and fats. Since foods that are less starchy will be affordable to all people including those with low capabilities, their consumption will be high and reasonable because they are healthy (Matz,

Introduction to marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Introduction to marketing - Assignment Example These include government rules, regulations and policies that impact on the business environment. According to Georgiev’s (2013, p. 4) study, these policies and regulations include tax policies, trade and labour laws, trade restrictions, tariffs, environmental laws and regulations, infrastructure and development policies. On the same note, political stability is also a critical factor that affects both the economy and the business. From these factors, it is clear that the political factors impact on the daily operations of businesses. This requires that businesses prepare to respond to the current, as well as anticipated future legislations, in order to adjust their marketing policies accordingly. These factors relate to the economy and affect how an entity conducts its business and their profitability. These factors include inflation, interest rates, exchange rates, economic growth, and disposable income of consumers and businesses. An entity has no control over these factors, and it only adjusts its business strategies, commercial and financial policies to benefit most from the prevailing economic conditions. These denote the social-cultural factors and include the shared beliefs and attitudes and can affect the business strategies positively or negatively. They include the demographic aspects such as religious beliefs and social stigmas, age distribution, employment and income statistics, education and career trends, overall general attitude, and population growth rate. These factors have a great impact on the operation of an entity since poor strategies, especially those which go against the societal norms face opposition, criticism protests and even negative publicity. A marketer must, therefore, understand individuals based on age as well as the whole society and what drives them to making a purchase. These factors are brought about by the technological landscape changes in the

Epistemology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Epistemology - Assignment Example Empirical form of knowledge can determine truth based on the actual experience of an individual through events or things that happen around the environment. b.) EMPIRICAL claims there are the four different theories concerning the determination of the truth of empirical claims: Correspondence theory of truth Coherence theory Pragmatist theory Scientific Theory Describe each of these four theories for proving empirical claims to be true. Explain each one. Do not simply list them. Describe them and explain them. This will take more than one sentence for each one. Correspondence theory is an empirical theory of truth that was espoused by Aristotle that holds that truth is what propositions are consequent to a way things in the world are. In other words, this theory claims that a proposition is true as long as there are present and existing facts that correspond to it. Coherence theory accounts for a proposition’s truth that occurs from an association between that proposition and another proposition. In that way, coherence theory will assert that a proposition is true if it fits together and coheres with any other related proposition. Pragmatic theory holds that a proposition is true if it is practical to accept as true.  This concept of truth was formed by the American Pragmatic philosophers such as C.S Peirce, William James and John Dewey who believed that the mark of truth is based on its practical utility above anything else. Beliefs that result to the best outcomes, are justified best from actions, that advance practical achievement, are held as  truths. Scientific truth hold that knowledge can only be sought ascertained through various scientific methods or operations that can lessen the chances of uncertainty since it is generally held by scientists that truth at best can is only approximate and never absolute. For the scientific theory, the method on reaching a close-to-certain result is just as important as the outcome itself. For if a method is based on opinion alone, it would be considered nothing more than just subjective bias. 2.) Critical Thinking c.) What do you think of the theory that there can be simultaneous multiple truths concerning claims? Concerning all types of claims? Does it apply to claims that are semantic, systemic, logical or empirical? Comment on each type. Can there be multiple truths for each type of claim? For any type of claim? Please indicate your familiarity with the readings in your answer -this means use some quotations to support your answers. Subjectivism and Relativism would claim that there are various points of views regarding a certain truth. The reason due to this is because there are different situations and circumstances that happen that are sometimes overlooked, whether intentionally or unintentionally, by the objective forms of knowledge. This could also apply to semantic, systemic, logical and empirical forms of knowledge. Semantic knowledge is knowledge that is the result of learn ing the meaning of words which the knowledge of words is knowledge of definitions, and such definitions are set in dictionaries (Pecorino, â€Å"An Introduction to Philosophy†). It should be taken into consideration that there are various languages around the world, and each language has their own rules or way of inferring

413 week 13 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

413 week 13 - Assignment Example Physicians cum entrepreneurs have identified a business opportunity where they can â€Å"make a kill.† Nonetheless, whereas the profits from diagnostic imaging services are lucrative, the health care services are jeopardized. Using the analogy of the Tragedy of the Commons, Archie and Alexander (2010) offer the probable eventuality of the healthcare system if nothing is done to contain the entrepreneurial trend among the physicians. In their effort to maximize their profits, they gradually drive the cost of accessing medical care high. This is already evidenced in the rising expenditure on both Medicare and Medicaid associated with imaging services. Similarly, overutilization of the diagnostic imaging services may provide temporary reprieve but the long term implications are most likely to drive healthcare into the doldrums. This is because more professionals, including those with little knowledge on diagnostic procedures, may choose to invest on the imaging services so as to increase their income. This is bound to cause decline in the quality of medical care. In conclusion, entrepreneurial trend occasioned by diagnostic imaging services should be discouraged at all costs using appropriate technologies. The trend not only hurts the quality of medical care, but is bound to frustrate the code of ethics in healthcare. Because of this, this issue is most likely to be an issue in future discussions within the Healthcare Information Management

Unethical Business Behavior (Monastato company) Essay

Unethical Business Behavior (Monastato company) - Essay Example Unethical Business Behavior (Monastato company) This can be furthered with the ideologies of libertarians or Aristotle, specifically which helps to develop a deeper understanding of what the moral and ethical problems are within a company. When analyzing Monsanto, an agricultural company, there is an understanding of the deeper problems of ethics as well as why this becomes important to alter with the company. Background of the Problem: The company Monastato was chosen because it is recognized as the top unethical company in the world. The company is located in Missouri and offers agricultural products to grocery stores. The company is known for providing genetically modified foods and seed to the world as well as agricultural products that are used to change the quality of foods. The company is known for being unethical first because of the approach taken to competition. If there is a farmer that is working ethically or which provides organic food, then Monsanto will try to sue them for offering the wrong products. The company’s strategy isn’t one based on winning or losing the suit, but instead of driving the farmers out of business because of the amount of money that is spent on putting them through court.The company moves beyond this with the foods and weed killer that is used. The particular company was chosen because of the current controversy which they are under as well as the controversies that are associated with the food and agriculture, both politically and in society. There are several that are now pressuring companies to begin altering the way in which food is provided with the concept of processing food and other components being difficult with those that are looking at the different processes for agriculture. The current health issues which many are facing and which are causing difficulties are leading to problems in becoming more renowned in political and social groups. Examining the different layers of Monsanto and the unethical behaviors that are associated with this then builds a deeper understanding of why it is important to pay attention to the problems that the company currently is sending to others while developing a deeper understanding of how ethics in terms of agricultural reform need to be reconsidered with this particular company as an example (Cesca, 2010: 1). Theories on Ethics The concepts that are associated with Monsanto relate directly to theories on ethics and the association which this creates with how the corporation needs to alter policies specifically for ethics. The first concept which can be looked into in terms of reform for ethics is the libertarian point of view. According to this viewpoint, every individual should have rights while restricting the political or corporate affiliations that are linked to this. More important, there needs to be a sense of independence and freedom that is associated with how one is able to maintain their own needs and concepts within society. This moves into the understanding that each individual has specific rights and expressions that are associated with the individual while creating the understanding that there needs to be a sense of balance with different needs. The belief is that this will associate with changes with class struggle as well as understanding wha t one’s natural rights are within society (Sandel, 2009: 60). The libertarian viewpoint is one which is looked at with the different policies and practices of Monsanto. The first is with

Cost-Quality Relationship Essay Example for Free

Cost-Quality Relationship Essay There are three types of costs when quality considerations are made: Appraisal Costs, Prevention Costs, and Failure Costs. These costs are affiliated with the efforts of process improvement and are also known as quality costs or cost of quality. Appraisal costs are associated with measuring, evaluating or auditing products and services to satisfy quality and performance requirements set by the company. Examples of this cost include inspection and testing of purchases material, final inspections, audits for products and services, and testing equipment. Prevention costs are associated with all activities designed to prevent and stop poor quality in the products and services provided to the customers. Examples of this cost include new product review, supplier surveys, capability evaluations, improvement projects, education and training. Failure costs result from products and services that did not meet the quality standards and requirements set by the company. They divided into two categories: Internal Failure Costs and External Failure Costs. Internal failure costs occur before delivery and shipment of product and/or before services are performed to the customer. Examples of this cost include scrap,  rework, retesting, re-inspecting, reviewing the material and downgrading. External failure costs occur after delivery and during or after providing the service to the customer. Examples of this cost include reviewing and processing customer complaints, customer returns, claims based on warranty, and recalls. The total quality costs are the sum of the appraisal, prevention, and failure costs. This will represent the difference between the actual costs of the product and/or service. The trade-offs between the appraisal, prevention, and failure costs are relevant. Some believe when the prevention costs are increased , the appraisal and failure costs will decrease substantially. This means that the total costs will be lower. Others say that if they spend too much on quality, it will reduce the money available for other projects such as upgrades to technology.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Analysis

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Analysis I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an autobiography written by Maya Angelou. She describes about her hard life caged growing up as a black girl from the South. Maya Angelou starts the novel about her life in the age of three with her four-year-old brother Bailey. They are turned over the care of their paternal grandmother in Stamps. She describes how the two children were sent away after they parents divorce, traveling by train across the Southwestern and cling to their tag To whom It May Concern, c/o Mrs Henderson. Both kids are looking this like rejection and loss of self-worth. Im being sent away because Im no lovable. Angelou generalizes the children situations as follows: Years later I discovered that the United States had been crossed thousands of times by frightened Black children traveling alone to their newly affluent parents in Northern cities, or black to grandmothers in Southern towns when the urban North reneged on its economic promises. (Caged Bird, 4). Smith states tha t Maya opens with a primal childhood scene that brings into focus the nature of the imprisoning environment from which the self will seek escape. The black girl child is trapped within the cage of her own diminished self-image around which interlock the bars of natural and social forces. (Interpretation, 6) Her grandmothers store is the center of life in the Negro community of the town, being the pick-up and drop-off point for cotton pickers in picking season. Her grandmother Henderson is presented not only as the main role in center of her family, but as the leader of the black community in Stamps, strong and religious. McMurry argues that from Mayas eyes the customers in her grandmothers store were trapped in cotton fields, no amount of hope and work to get them out. Her uncle Willie is caged must have been tired of being crippled, as prisoners tire of penitentiary bars and the guilty tire of blame. Her grandmother rises each morning with consciousness of a caged animal (Interpretation, 27). Maya and her brother Baily were very close during their childhood and most of their adolescence. Maya in her story writes, During these years in Stamps, I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare. He was my first white love (Caged Bird, 11). Maya writes that But it was Shakespeare who said, `When in disgrace with fortune and mens eyes. It was a state with which I felt myself most familiar. I pacified myself about his whiteness by saying that after all he had been dead so long that it couldnt matter to anyone any more. She also enjoys the works of many prominent black authors, which her Momma, or grandmother, approves more of. Although young Maya likes Shakespeare, and is fine with the fact that he is white, her Momma wouldnt want to know that Maya enjoys a white mans work. Maya feels that she again is caged and cant express her thoughts and feeling about Shakespeare with grandmother. Angelou recalls how Momma used to make them bathe and wash constantly, even in cold water in wintertime. She used to insist on them being respectful and clean, which most people were, except for the powhitetrash children that came into the town. Those that came to the store were often very rude, but young Maya and her family are not allowed to say anything, because they are black. Angelou describes her Momma; she is tall, big, and strong, and leads in the hymns at church every Sunday. She is old-fashioned, though, as she teaches the children to behave as she was to behave as a child, and teaches them to act according to outdated racial codes of behavior. Carol Neubauer comments in Angelous relationship with her grandmother states that Momma becomes a sort of superwoman of enormous proportions with ten feet tall with eight-foot arms and comes to the helpless childs rescue. In this alternate vision, Angelou switches to fantasy to suggest the depth of the childs humiliation and the resi due of pain even after her two bad teeth have been pulled. Fantasy, finally, is used to demonstrate the undiminÂÂÂ ­ished strength of the character of Momma. The recession hit the community and the big difference between the white and black communities of Stamps is noted; white people have plenty of clothes and can afford to be charitable and spend too much, and still they have enough for themselves. In the black community, people can hardly afford to give anything away, so when they do, it is much appreciated. Even though Momma has land and money, even she doesnt spend money like the white people do, budgeting carefully and never wasting anything. Even Momma makes all of the clothes for herself and the children, and only buys Uncle Willie expensive, ready-made clothes and shoes. The depression hits Stamps, and leads to wages being cut and difficulty making ends meet. That also means that they cant afford to shop at the store, and Momma has to figure out how to keep the store running and still make money. She allows the townspeople to trade the relief food that they get for credit at the store, and is able to keep things going there. The entire black community of Stamps Smith argues, itself caged in the social reality of racial subordination and impotence (Modern Critics, 133) Christmas comes, and Maya and Bailey get presents from their parents, who they hadnt heard of since they were shipped off to Stamps. Maya and Baileys father comes to Stamps the next year, to see his children; neither of them were warned that he was coming, and it is hard for them to face their father in the flesh and give up the fantasies they had about their absent father. He is tall and handsome, and more proper and wealthy than the people in Stamps. Maya is happy that he is there, but then thinks that if people see her and her father together, their dissimilarity in looks will make people think she is not his daughter. When they finally do meet their mother, she is very beautiful and charming, and Maya and Bailey are no longer nervous or sad at being taken away from Stamps. Saint Louis is the important turning point in Mayas life. She received the mothers love and care that she missed all the years in Stamps. Maya doesnt have friends and only Bailey is the only one she can share h er secret. Maya writes Saint Louis was a foreign country. In my mind I only stayed in St. Louis a few weeks and I carried the same shield that I used in Stamps: I didnt come to stay. (Caged Bird, 58). In Saint Louis, mothers boyfriend, Mr. Friedman raped Maya at age of eight and she hospitalized. Maya describes that she looked at Mr. Freeman as a father figure. He was the only real man that was a part of her life. Being at a young age she thought that Mr. Freeman just loved and cared for her, just like any little girl would. But it went farther Mr. Freeman eventually forces her to have sex, and threatens her not to tell anybody. Ultimately, Maya was convinced that by her telling everyone about Mr. Freeman raping her, however condemning him and lying about the other times he molested her, she caused his death. Thinking that now every time she lies, someone will die, Maya decides to shield others by not speaking to anyone except Bailey. I had discovered that to achieve perfect personal silence al l I had to do was to attach myself leechlike to sound. I began to listen to everything. I probably hoped that after I heard all the sounds the world would be quiet around me (Caged Bird , 87). The lack of sound in Mayas life due to the rape and lies she said under oath had become the most important thing to her. Her life now became the sound of everyone else, burying the sound she believes can kill; her own voice. Mayas writing is simple and she is very honest. Bertolino states that Angelous description of her molestation and rape is probably the most valuable part of her remarkable book. Angelou tells the story honestly, without sensationalism, yet with enough palpable detail and enough insight so we, the readers, might to understand. (Blooms Note, 56) After these difficulties, Maya and her brother went at Stamps. Smith argues that Mayas psychological and emotional devastation find a mirror in Stamps social devastation. Stamps gives her back the familiarity and security of well-known cage. She climbs back in happily, losing herself in her silent world, surrendering herself to her own worthlessness. (Modern Critical Views, 9). Mrs Bertha Flowers played an important role in her life. Mrs. Flowers allowed Maya to come out of her depression and learned about many different things. Mrs. Flower helped Maya to come out of depression, she says to her Now no one is going to make you talk-possibly no one can. But bear in mind, language is a mans way of communicating with his fellow man and it is language alone which separates him from the lower animal (Caged Bird, #). Mrs. Flowers, also introduces Maya to reading books, she learns that she must be biased of ignorance, but understanding of the illiteracy, and also Mrs. Flowers offered her to cookies and tea. Smith argues Mrs Flower opens the door to the caged birds silence with the key of acceptance. For the first time Maya is accepted as an individual rather than as a relation to someone else: I was liked, and what a difference it made. I was respected not as Mrs. Andersons grandchild or Baileys sister but just being Marguerite Johnson (Caged bird, 98). Such unqualified acceptance allows her to experience the incipient power of her own self-worth. (Modern Critical Views, 9). Angelou describes again the inequality between whites and blacks and looked them in cage. Equal education opportunities are also lacking, and the intellectual capacities of blacks are assumed severely limited; the schools provide an academic curriculum for whites and an athletic one for blacks. The white kids were going to have a chance to become Galileo and Edisonand the (black) boys (the girls werent even in on it) would try to be Jesse Owenses and Joe Louises, writes Angelou (Caged Bird, 151). Using both irony and straightforward description, Angelou confronts racism and gender bias, and tries to sensitize readers to these issues. Her voice come stronger and emotional It was awful to be Negro and have no control over my life. It was brutal to be young and already trained to sit quietly and listen to charges brought against my color with no chance of defense. We should all be dead. (Caged Bird, 153) At the graduation ceremony, during which the exciting expectation of the young graduates and their families and friends are exploded casually by the words of an oblivious and insensitive white speaker, the young girl comes to know already the desperation of impotence (Modern Critical, 10): It was awful to be Negro and have no control over my life. It was brutal to be young and already trained to it quietly and listens to charges brought against my color with no chance of defense. We should all be dead. I thought I should like to see us all dead, one on top of the other. (Caged bird, 153) Angelou using her memories to show how hard was the life of black society she was caged in black community. During a Gradation Party Maya gets a toothache and goes to see a white doctor. The doctor refuses to put his hands in a black girls mouth saying: My policy is Id rather stick my hand in a dogs mouth than in a niggers (Caged Bird, 160). .. Maya continues her story in 1941 where her mother, Vivian marries Clidell and they move to San Francisco. Maya and Baily again went to live with Vivian Baxter. Maya attended to George Washington High School and the age fourteen received scholarship to attend to California Labor School, where she took evening classes in a drama and dance. In 1943 when Maya was 15 years old she spent a summer with her father at a trailer park in Los Angeles. Maya accompanies her father to a small Mexican town where he proceeds to get obviously drunk, leaving her with responsibility of getting them back to Los Angeles. For the first time, Maya finds herself totally in control for her fate. She never had driven a car but her courage she did. And although the drive culminates in accidents, she triumphs. Unable to get along with her father and his live-in girlfriend she ran away and lived for 6 weeks in junkyard that was the residence of a community of homeless children. Angelou was impressed by this nonjudgmental and self-sufficient group of young transients and she felt that her experience with them served as a kind of initiation into the human race. Recalling this group in Caged Bird Angelou wrote: After hunting down unbroken bottles and selling them with a white girl from Missouri, a Mexican girl from Los Angeles, and a Black girl from Oklahoma, I was never again to sense myself so solidly outside the pale of the human race. The lack of criticism evidenced by our ad hoc community influenced me, and set a tone of tolerance for my life (215). This moment succeeded by a month spend wrecked car provide her with knowledge of self-determination and a confirmation of her self-worth. With this affirmative knowledge and power, while is she was in high school she decide to work and applied for a position as a conductor in streetcars. Stamps acquiescence and cage is left far behind in Arkansas Maya assumes control over her own social destiny and engaged in the struggle with lifes forces. Braxton argues that another positive identity experience occurs in the world of work Marguerite is determine to become a conductor on the San Francisco streetcars, even though no black have been hired previously. She visits the Market Street Railway Office with the frequency of a person on salary until she is hired, breaking the color barrier previously imposed against blacks and achieving a degree of independence (Modern Critical, 228. ) In her story, Maya concludes, The black female is assaulted in her tender year by those common forces of nature at the same time that she is caught in the tripartite crossfire of masculine prejudice, white illogical hate and Black lack of power. (Caged Bird, 231) She has broken out the rusted bars of her social cage. (page 11) Maya become increasingly concerned about her body, which to her seemed unfeminine and underdeveloped. Though her mother tried to informed her otherwise, Angelou feared that she was physically abnormal and began to wonder if she could be lesbian. Wanting to assure herself of her sexual identity, Angelou invited a male classmate to have sex with her one time. The incident resulted in a pregnancy and have a baby boy. It is the born of the baby the main turn point in Mayas life and her triumph. Smith states Maya Angelous autobiography comes to a sense of an ending: the black American girl child has succeed in freeing herself from the natural and social bars imprisoning her in the cage of her diminished self-image by assuming control of her life and fully acceptation her black womanhood. (Modern critic, 12)

Jim Henson :: essays research papers fc

JIM HENSON Jim Henson was born on September 24, 1936, in Greenville, Mississippi. He moved to Maryland in fifth grade and throughout his childhood had a strong interest in both art and television. His grandmother was very supportive of his interests and constantly encouraged him to use his imagination. In 1954 Jim started in television performing puppets on a local channel’s Saturday morning program. The next year, while studying at the University of Maryland, he was given a five-minute show called Sam and Friends which aired twice a day. This show introduced the first Muppets, marionette puppets. The success of this show led him to many appearances on shows such as The Today Show and The Steve Allen Show. During this time Jim began making many humorous commercials for sponsors. With weekly appearances on these shows, Jim asked for the help of a puppet maker name Don Sahlin and a puppeteer name Frank Oz. "From 1964 to 1969 Henson produced several experimental films." In the mid-60’s Jim was asked to create characters to populate a new children’s show, Sesame Street. It was here where he made some of his most famous characters such as Ernie and Bert, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, and Big Bird. On this show Jim produced over two dozen shorts to teach counting and other basics. Soon after his fame on Sesame Street Jim, after promoting the idea for The Muppet Show for years, finally received backing to produce. On this show the most famous Muppet of all, Kermit the Frog, was introduced along with Miss Piggy, Rizzo the Rat, Rowlf the Dog, Fozzie Bear, and of course Gonzo the Whatever. The Muppet Show became the most widely viewed television program in the world. From this show many movies and spin-off television shows have been produced. Jim Henson died in 1990 from pneumonia right after his last project for Muppet Vision 3-D, an attraction for Disney World, and right before he was going to sell his company to Disney Studios. Today his son runs and owns the Henson Company. Jim Henson possessed many lovable qualities about him but his most important characteristic was his creativity. Jim Henson created characters that were out of this world and quite unexpected. Jim Henson also had an extraordinary sense of humor, which attracted young and old to his television shows. Jim Henson once said, "Nobody creates a fad.

Comparing Dictators Adolf Hitler versus Benito Mussolini versus Joseph

This essay will compare the three leaders who are famous for their dictatorship and totalitarianism during the 30's decade-Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini and Joseph Stalin. Totalitarianism is when a government gains absolute and total control over the country, including the freedom of thought and will as well as the citizen?s lifestyle, no other political parties are allowed and has the concept where the country is most important. The difference and similarity between their ideology, usage of propaganda & censorship and the method of improving the economy would be stated and explained through examples. Basically, their ultimate aim was the same, they all tried to make their country better. However, there was their own ambition wanting for power included in their ruling which was probably why they all ended up dictating their county. They all abolished the democracy idea and used similar methods to rule their country, they all had control over the media for example censoring media and books and editing them in order to favor their own image. There are major similarities and minor differences between the ways of these leaders?s ruling. There would be a bigger gap between Stalin and the rest because he claimed himself as a communist whilst Hitler and Mussolini were fascists. Firstly, the three leaders all had similar ideology-they rejected the democracy idea, this is because they all dictated and dictatorship is a complete opposite of democracy. In democracy, the leader of the country cannot possess complete control over the country and is very easy to loose their position because the public has power over the government, and Hitler believed that Germany could only become stronger under his dictatorship. So it is obvious why Hitl... ...e similar things to Hitler, he also tried to decrease the unemployment rate and the most magnificent achievement was that under his order the railroads were completed. Stalin was truly successful at improving their country?s economy state, whilst Hitler and Mussolini only managed exterior success. This is probably why Germany was eventually defeated by Russia. In conclusion, there were a lot of similarities and differences between the three leaders. The similarity can be seen most clearly in the propaganda and censorship section and the differences in the economy section. There seems to be more similarity comparing to differences. Overall, they had same basic concepts, they were affected by same issues and thought closely in big branches and each developed them into different ways, their ideologies all lead them into dictatorship no matter the minor differences.

Abortion Not Necessary to Control Overpopulation :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Abortion Not Necessary to Control Overpopulation       Time and again the media has proposed the reasonableness of an abortive mentality because it is consistent with maintaining the world's population at a stable, feedable level. In order to examine the validity of this argument, it is necessary to look at related issues. To determine whether a nation is growing or dying, we must examine three factors: birth rate . . . death rate . . . immigration.    Birth Rate: This is the ultimate determinant. In a developed nation the average woman must bear 2.1 children (Mean Fertility Rate) in order to maintain a level population. In an undeveloped nation the rate must be 2.3 or more because of higher infant and child mortality.    Death Rate: In recent years fewer people have died than have been born in most countries because the average age of life expectancy has been extended. Everyone will die, of course, but for now this has resulted in increases in population.    Immigration and emigration: Many want to come into the U.S., Canada and most developed nations. Few want to move to Cuba, Libya or Russia. These dynamics explain why the total populations of the U.S., Canada and Australia (to pick three) are still growing, even though their birth rates are below replacement level. With a much higher percentage of their people aging, but still alive, most Western nations have a rapidly aging population. In the U.S. people born in 1970 had a life expectancy of 70 years. In 1993 it was 76 years. By 2050 it will be 82 years. (US News)    With heavy immigration to fill the younger age slots, we see a progressive change in ethnicity, e.g., the U.S. is becoming more Hispanic; Germany, France, Italy, Greece and Israel more Muslim. In Italy, the birth rate is 1.2, the lowest in the world in countries keeping accurate records. In '93, there were 5,265 more Italians buried than were born. If this continues unchanged, within 100 years, its population will shrink from 57 to 15 million, with half of those over 65 years old.    Russia is worse. Accurate statistics are not available, but by the mid '90s, estimates place the birth rate under 1.0 among non-Muslims and burials exceeding births at over 1 million per year. (Boston Globe)    But notice the change in age groups. There were four in the working years for each one retired.

Role of Media

â€Å"Electronic Media† are those communication mediums which are based on electronic or electromechanical means of production and most often distinguished from print media. The primary electronic media sources familiar to the general public worldwide include radio, sound recordings, television, video recording and streaming internet content† . It denotes, â€Å"the main means of communicating with large number of people, especially television, radio, internet and satellite†. The electronic media have four basic functions; to inform, entertain, educate and influence the public opinion.The 20th century can be termed as the century of communication. The main mean of mass communication grew in succession as the century unfolded. Motion pictures arrived on scene in the first decade of this century. Regular radio broadcasts started in 1920s. Television entered the arena in 1940s, followed by cable television in 1950s, and satellite television in 1970s. Lastly the perso nal computer gave access to Internet in 1980s. It transformed the interconnected computer networks through World Wide Web by the 1990s. Types of  Ã‚   electronic mediaRadio. In Pakistan like other developing countries, radio is the major source of information and entertainment due to its reach to the far flung areas and being relatively economical. Broadcasts carry news, analyses, commentaries and advertisements. This medium, however, is losing attraction in the public. Television. TV due to its potentials to offer a greater variety than other elements of electronic media has become the strongest form of media to perform all four functions, i. e. information, education, influence and entertainment. Internet.Internet is the latest addition into the elements of medium of electronic communication. It is swiftly bringing a historic shift in the dynamics and profile of the global information sector. The medium also provides instant access to the largest data bases and archives of infor mation around the world. 1. 6   The media and the ground realities The most critical obligation of electronic media is to act as the custodian of the facts. There are certain realities and electronic media’s mindset and peculiarities, which to some extent are universal.The electronic media is a business, a billion dollar industry and thus its primary motive remains to earn money and not harmonize the society. Due to intense competition in the field of electronic media industry, media has to be competitive; to be â€Å"Exclusive and First†. The electronic media often looks for controversy, sensationalism and negative news to make headlines. In some cases the electronic  Ã‚   media feels that it has the right to interpret what is good or bad for society using its own standards.The electronic Media was primarily and popularly used by our previous regimes as tool of self propaganda, the quality of news poor, unreliable and un-imaginative presentation of events and stor ies, ultimately losing the confidence of general public. Introduction of Satellite TV, Cable and Private Channels and Dish widened the scope of awareness of people. The Government of Pakistan realized the sensitivity and potential of private electronic media which could not be avoided through State controlled TV only.The governmental policies regarding electronic media   took a different direction, to regulate this sector. 1. 7  Pakistan electronic media regulatory authority The objective of PEMRA was to regulate the electronic media i. e. Radio and TV. This was necessitated by the decision to allow a large number of private TV and radio channels. The Ordinance also gives a Code of Conduct for media broadcasters/ cable TV operators. â€Å"This Regulatory Body was established under the PEMRA Ordinance 2002, having the following goals in mind†Ã‚   i)  Improve the standards of information, education and entertainment. i)  Enlarge the choice available to the people of Pak istan in the media for news, current affairs, religious knowledge, art, culture, science, technology, economic development, social sector concerns, music, sports, drama and other subjects of public and national interest. iii)  Facilitate the devolution of responsibility and power to the grass roots by improving the access of the people to mass media at the local and community level. iv)  Ensure accountability, transparency and good governance by optimization of the free flow of information. . SECTION-2 FAULT LINES IN NATIONAL COHESION AND INTEGRATION . 1  What is National Integration? The concept of National Integration is subject to a wide range of interpretations. However, two definitions which catch the essential spirit of the concept include, â€Å"The creation of a National Political System which supersedes or incorporates all the regional sub-cultures† , and the creation of a â€Å"Common national consciousness, a common national consensus and a common national i dentity† . These two definitions appear adequate for working purposes as they underline both the political as well as the socio-cultural ingredients of the process of integration.National cohesion refers to the bonds or â€Å"glue† that binds members of society, community or other groups together. The most obvious bonds are ideological, ethnic, linguistic, religious, cultural and historic. However, the homogeneity of a nation is no guarantee of successfully bonding together as a cohesive whole. â€Å"The extent of the threat posed to the integrity of a state by the multiplicity of languages, races, religions etc. , depends on a variety of factors but there are basically two requisites (conflict of ideology and economic decline) which must be present before a country may be deemed to be faced with a problem of national disunity.    The Pakistani society is in transition, and it faces challenges but still the national interest is to make Pakistan as a unity-in-diversit y and there is an ever-growing need to develop a harmonious society. â€Å"The balance sheet of social changes in Pakistani society over the past half century has both cost and benefits. Pakistani society has split into class-cum-lifestyle segments. Its social institutions do not dovetail into each other; instead fissures of institutional lag run through them.Its cohesiveness has given way to the fragmentation and the erosion of value and moral consensus†. 2. 2  Fault Lines in National Cohesion and Integration in Pakistan Integration or cohesion is an ideal, â€Å"it is not a thing but a process. It is dynamism ruled by an inner necessity, being guided in a direction chosen by itself as a goal or rather a series of goals leading to a certain direction †. National integration and social cohesion is the capacity of a society to ensure the welfare of its all members, minimize disparities and avoid polarization.A cohesive society is mutually supportive community of free individuals, pursuing these common goals by democratic means. National integration and social cohesion is at risk in Pakistan because of many impeding factors, which originate within the country or influenced by external reasons. It may also be a complex outcome of interaction between the country forces and stresses and influences of global scenario. The socio-political factors and socio-economic factors as listed below have contributed to cause fault lines in national cohesion and integration. 2.   Socio-Political Factors Intolerance and near absence of civic responsibility, now manifested in our society is indeed the outcome of a hierarchical structure and social barriers, further and enforced by policy approaches in the 80s. Politicizing of religion and language is one major source of fractionalization. â€Å"Presently, the culture and society of Pakistan are in the grip of an unprecedented upheaval. In the post 9/11 world, the political, religious, and the social dynamics in Pakistan have been under major internal transformation and intense international scrutiny.Ethnic and sectarian violence which ravaged the country for the last two decades has sharply polarized the society. Various Islamic religious groups jostle violently for power. Religious faith, usually a matter of personal redemption, is flagrantly flaunted and a stunning lack of tolerance for difference increasingly defines Pakistani society. † Constitutional Crisis. The non-agreement and lack of consensus on various revisions and amendments in 1973 constitution remained a contentious issue among the federating units since long.The delayed process of reconciliation and agreement, on this only document to govern the state is a serious threat to national cohesion and integration. Provincialism. Imbedded strides of sub national identities engraved into the fabric of the provinces pose an existential threat to national cohesion. This issue is even more pronounced in case of smaller provinces like Khyber Pukhtunwa and Balochistan. Identity crisis prevailing with in the provinces is tarnishing the very physiology of democracy in essence and in dispensation at National level.There are contradictions between national and provincial interests, particularly in matte relating to language, ethnicity, identity, and power. There are small Political groups and movements agitating for their rights, including Baloch issue. Nevertheless, such provincial or regional sentiments swirl within the national cultural pool. Sectarian Intolerance. The division of society on the basis of sects, tribes, colour and creed gives rise to intolerance towards other sects. The violence on sectarianism basis is on the rise. The religious intolerance and extremism, and over emphasis on religious dentities due to that   Pakistani society is facing continuous challenge of terrorism in the name of religion and belief. Political Process and Direction. The directionless political system rarely delivers to the satisfaction of voters. Various derivations of political process have no regard for national objectives and national interests and efforts for achievement of these goals for the country are hardly visible. The political system as a whole is driven by conflicting vested interests. The political parties lack democratic norms in their rank and file.Leadership Style and Direction. The political leadership as a whole has failed to satisfy the masses. The trust deficit between the leadership and the people has widened, and is increasing with the passage of time. The social and political positions of so-called ruling elites are just a symbol of false pride without much regard for vision and justice. Non-State Actors. Unorganized political parties have increased the influence of non-state actors in national politics, thereby vested interests are perpetuated, at the cost of national interests. Challenges to the Writ of the Government.The manifestation of this divide is the challenge to the writ of the State in FATA and Malakand Division where state infrastructure of governance has been uprooted, the power elite has been eliminated (either by murder or forced migration) new and parallel structures have been created and the application of Constitution is challenged. â€Å"The so-called Islamic fundamentalists have always been influential in the largely poor, illiterate, and rural Pakistan society. These groups represent a variety of power centres based on an array of belief systems from within Islam.Historically, none of these groups have had much success at the ballot box, but with a strong core of ‘true believers’ with blind faith and unflinching allegiance, they have often been able to display enough Street power to disrupt civil life. Since the war of independence in neighbouring Afghanistan in the 1980s, these religious groups have been encouraged and aided by the government of Pakistan and the US State Department. As a result they have ‘flo urished and proliferated under the exhilarating notion of jihad.The border between Afghanistan and Pakistan has been porous for centuries because of the unusual terrain that facilitates traffic and a common tribal ethos that informs the lives of the bordering populace. With the rapid and fearsome Talibanization of Afghanistan and the Mullahisation of Pakistan, the borders for all practical and ideological purposes dissolved, and these processes played a vital role in the fluctuating social ethos of Pakistan. †Ã‚   War against Terrorism. The country is facing various challenges.The multiple threats and constant pressures are very serious since post 9/11 due to Pakistan’s commitment with West for fight against terrorism. This involvement is viewed as being done to oblige the West. The suicidal attacks and drone attacks are the result of this involvement. Feudalism / Tribalism. In Pakistan the feudal and tribal society where rights of human being are violated is a matter o f concern, people are not free to express their desire to govern. In such circumstances the leadership style is power centred and feudal in character, this leadership enjoys respect because of fear, and not because of trust. National and regional culture has, at various times, interwoven and competed with each other. In times when centralization is the ideological thrust, national themes and institutions are in the ascendancy, but when the pendulum swings toward decentralization, regional and ethnic societies and cultures reassert their autonomy. The political ideologies and movements that shift the balance between national and regional social and cultural systems are the markers of Pakistan’s social change. †Ã‚   Role of Madrassa.There is little control of government over madrassas in the country, these madras do pose a threat to the cohesion of the society in Pakistan, if not regulated adequately. . 2. 4. Socio – Economic Factors Socio – Economic dispari ties. The poverty and inflation has caused disparities in the society. The people living below the poverty line have increased in number. The unemployment and low income has caused economic imbalance in the society. The division of society and decline in socio-economic standards have adversely impacted the quality of life. Bad Governance. Undemocratic & non-participatory governance. . The perception of governance leading to good governance is flouted; concepts of transparency and accountability are misleading in Pakistani experience.The accountability is selective and by choice, its aim is not to reform the society of negative practices, but to benefit the fittest and powerful. The people have no faith in the system of governance and accountability. Violation of Human Rights. The human rights violation is on the increase, the weaker segments of the population even do not get the rights given in the constitution and the irony remains ignorance on their part of basic rights bestow ed by the constitution. The perception of women as having a lower status at all levels is the principle barrier in the way of gender equality and is reinforced by customary practises and the laws of the land. Women education, health, labour force participation, mobility, decision making etc, all reflect the unique situation of women in Pakistan. † Personal Security Perception. The constant engagement of population in this war against terrorism has changed its perception of personal security. The people have doubts about the success of governmental policies. Loyalty towards State /individualistic behaviour.The notion of loyalty towards state is blurred, people’s expectation of justice and fair play are shattered, and therefore, their loyalty towards State is also undermined. The individualism has replaced collectivism; the bigger societal group is vanished. The conflicts of values, beliefs, and other sociological imbalances has damaged the national fabric and has caused segmentation on the basis of caste and class   Justice and Rule of law. The justice is uncertain; the rules of game are settled by abuse of power. The respect for justice is linked with status and position of the seeker.The attitude towards Rule of Law is very negative, law breaking is considered as a pride for the powerful. Due to delayed justice people have lost hope in the system to get justice. Violence against Women and minorities  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Many Analysts are in agreement that women’s poor status as well as poverty is rooted in social and cultural organization of society†. The rights of the women are abused, and such abuse is referred to the culture and customs and here- say, this victimization is devoid of any ideological, religious and legal and Constitutional basis.The religious minorities are threatened and do face violence at their religious places, thereby show concern of threat and personal security. â€Å"Empowering women is a challenge, requires changes in the existing class and caste based structure and it needs a focused and active public delivery system to ensure that resources and opportunities earmarked for women reach them† Mistrust in Criminal Justice System. The people do not have trust in criminal justice system, and lack of trust generates uncertainty and confusion in the society. â€Å"In Pakistani society, the udiciary plays a pivotal role in articulating and enforcing rules of conduct for its citizens. The judiciary derives its legitimacy and power from the constitution. † †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ ?SECTION-3 ROLE OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA IN PAKISTAN 3. 1  Electronic media’s impact on Pakistani society In Pakistan the electronic media is providing information at a very large scale. It is being recognized as contributing significantly in important national issues. It has a   role in   accountability process . The Ptv is pursuing an agenda of social responsibility there are two main challenges of sustainability of democracy and good governance face by the country.In such a scenario, role of media is to facilitate the democracy. â€Å"The social impact of communication and media has seeped deep into social and cultural institutions, paradoxically reviving traditions as well as introducing new practices. Like other processes, communication and information media are bound up with other socio- economic forces, thus making them a strong current of social change. †Ã‚   The electronic media has created markets resulting in the employment of greater work force in gathering, processing and disseminating information.The electronic media have a vital role to play in the present day world in Pakistan. The independent electronic media can demonstrate better performance to provide good quality information with its wider reach. â€Å"Private channels highlight causes of mis- governance and bring them to the attention of those who are responsible. They can raise public awareness about what the public itself should also do to ensure good governance whether it is correct payment of taxes and bills or issues such as tax avoidance. Such practices should be discouraged and the media has a duty to learn from other countries how this is being done.Private sector media have an enormous educative and mobilizing role to play when it comes to what society do and certainly with respect to highlighting the social responsibility of the media and the citizens. †Ã‚   â€Å"How does Pakistani society hold together despite its ethnic divisions, segmented classes, and fragmented institutions? What are the processes that maintain its social cohesion? This two-part question raises a critical issue about some semblance of functional equilibrium of society. †Ã‚   The electronic media role ive new direction to social behaviour, â€Å"by changing the boundaries of social situations, electronic media do not simply give us quicker or more thorough access to e vents and behaviours. They give us instead, new events and new behaviour. † Following are some of the roles, both Negative and positive being played by electronic media in Pakistan. 3. 2  Positive impact of electronic media The electronic media direct social change and values. The electronic media may be successful in stimulating the change in the tightly held ideas and rigid attitudes to bring desired change.The media can give direction to social change, and positively guide the society towards the desired goals. The electronic media and   Policy Dialogue. The electronic media can greatly facilitate this exercise and help the people and government to discuss the issues concerning society, to fulfil their desires and achieve their respective objectives. In Pakistan, the people frequently need to be taken into confidence for the initiation of new policies and initiatives. The objective discussion on political and policy issues media can generate support of people for polici es of the government..Social problems and media. The social problems of our society revolve around ignorance, traditionalism and backwardness. The Pakistani society is in transition, social and ethnic issues have become hard, it happens in many societies, but need to be averted in tolerance. It is an established fact that blaming circumstances, whether disorders or external factors, for what is happening for Pakistan is not going to do any good for Pakistan’s survival as a dignified an honourable nation. The electronic media can partly address the challenge of societal transformation.The effect of media on national issues. The electronic media has also been highlighting financial irregularities, corrupt practices and inefficiencies of the government functionaries and negative fallouts on the society of the acts of the extremist elements to adopt an appropriate strategy for their eradication. â€Å"The media have a measurable effect on public affairs. In the matter of local, national, economic and social issues, they help to create an informed citizenry by clarifying the complex matters of public affairs which exist at the local and national levels.The formation of public opinion towards the civic problems is generated. †Ã‚   As such the media give the public a better understanding of these issues with which it must deal and influence those who have to resolve these issues. Electronic media communication and information Identification of social problems has always been a difficult job as they fall into a grey area and consequently hard to be known. â€Å"Advances in communication and information dissemination, such as television, videos, Internet, and CDs, have increased the circulation of ideas, symbols, and images across national and regional borders.People have access to new sources of news, facts, and entertainment. These media help rationalize, redirect, or impede changes that are underway through economic and social development. † 3. 3  Negative impact of electronic media Objectivity and Electronic Media. The objectivity of media is becoming increasingly questionable, the coverage of issues of national interest demand care and restraint. The media in Pakistan is devoid of objectivity, and just telecast such incidents that sometime are not factual. â€Å"The very nature of media is subjective and selective, and therefore suppressive.The general electronic media content do cover non-event-centric aspects of life in Pakistan. There is an imbalanced fixation with events, incidents, accidents and statements. † In order to improve their ratings and enhance viewers ship, the tool of sensationalism is used. What is important is to think as to what is being done to own sensibilities and social and moral values. Causing Desperation amongst Nation. These days no news is good news on Pakistani media. Media has taken away the sense of hope from the masses and has made them over sensitive to their surroundings.Commer cialism and Electronic Media. In today’s world, there is a cross commercialization of the electronic media. Commercially driven, ultra-powerful media primarily serves their sponsors rather than the public. Pakistani media is following the saying, ‘We have no obligation to make history. We have no obligation to make art; we have no obligation to make a   positive statement, to make money is our only objective. Electronic Media and Talk Shows   Generally the talk shows do not meet basic tests of responsible journalism; fairness, objectivity, balance and differentiation between fact and speculation.Honest discussion must be ruled by reason, not emotion alone. Most anchors try to impose their own perspective, instead of objectivity. â€Å"However, unfortunately, this role has moved from delineation to distortion. In essence, distortion is in-built into the very nature of media as it is unable to represent totality of given situation. Therefore, media managers in any on going situation in a society should strive to minimize that inherent tendency to distort. †Ã‚  Ã‚   Polarisation of the Society.In some instances, the electronic media is accessed by a small segment of society; due to vested interests this group projects its identity disproportionately. The media coverage of such groups is likely to create a  Ã‚   polarized society. Negative Projection of the Country. All events and happenings in Pakistan are not bad. On the contrary sometime nothing positive is discussed in the electronic media. The projection of crimes and anti- social elements all the time is eroding and diminishing the contours of our true identity across the globe. Pursuance of Foreign Agenda.It is believed that some of Pakistani media has reportedly links with shady foreign characters, are being funded by different foreign elements and their anchors are on their pay rolls and thus are furthering their anti- state agendas. ======================= PREFACE Being participa nt of 92nd   National Management Course   at the National Management College of the National School of Public Policy, Lahore, I am assigned the topic of Individual Research Paper titled, â€Å"Growth and Development of Electronic Media in Pakistan: How it can Enhance National Cohesion and Integration? . The growth of electronic media over past few decades is very rapid in Pakistan. The media can impact public opinion in a significant manner. In Pakistan the national integration and cohesion, is indeed a serious issue, which needs to be analyzed. The media’s extraordinary growth can impact this problem. The media is being considered as a fourth pillar of the state. . In this study a sincere effort has been made in a comprehensive but concise way to analyze the dimensions of â€Å"fault lines† in national cohesion and integration that occurred during the last over 60 years.The role of electronic media to enhance the national cohesion and integration has been analyze d in this study. The same has been analyzed in historical, socio-political, socio-economic, governance and leadership context. From this analysis, a starting point, as I perceive can be made to think various aspects concerning national cohesion and integration. In the end the analysis is concluded and some  Ã‚   recommendations have been made. . I am grateful and deeply indebted to professional guidance extended by Dr.Sikander Hayat, Dean National School of Public Policy, for his encouragement at all stages in carrying out this research and making it possible. I am grateful to Mrs. Rashida Bokhari for her vision and hard work in guiding me on the theme of the paper during the process. She was always critical but professional in her outlook that enabled me to complete this research as per requirements. I am thankful to Prof. Sajjad Naseer and Dr Riffat S. Hussain, for sharing socio political outlook and focused in depth analysis of Pakistani Society. I am also grateful to Ms. Naeem a and her team for the assistance extended for library research.

Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child

I was really enjoying service last Sunday, because my pastor I must admit is good at what he was called to do- crack jokes and preach the word of God. He shared a story about his childhood during service and that gave me the inspiration for this write up.A young pastor Tunde (not real name) apparently set out to grind pepper for his mum, so that dinner could be made without hassle. And so Tunde went to the grind-man’s house and got the pepper well grounded, but instead of going back home decided to play â€Å"one-set† of football. â€Å"One set† led to â€Å"two sets† and more and Tunde was running late for dinner preparations, but at least he had grounded the pepper.Done with football practice and catching up with friends Tunde was on his way out of the sandy football pitch when a more excited friend on the football pitch decided to smash one last shot at goal, but missed by a long mile and caught Tunde’s hand and the grounded pepper spilled on the sand. Afraid and panicking, Tunde managed to get a hold of himself and packed whatever spilled on the sand, alongside the sand and put it all back in the bag and ran straight home with the ‘perfect excuse’.Tunde’s mum asked in earnest what kept him so long, and Tunde said he had to wait in line for his turn. Tunde’s mother refused to dwell on that and collected the (sandy) pepper from his hand and went back into the kitchen. It was there she saw a rather new mixture of grounded pepper and sand (delicious) and required from Tunde as to what came about this combination. Already a successful liar once, Tunde brought out another great line when he said the grinds-man, on putting the pepper inside the machine brought out this mixture and he had no choice but to take what the machine had given to him.Cutting the story short, now born-again Pastor Tunde revealed that he still vividly remembers the slap that was dished out to him when he was done with his ridicul ous response. It was in line of that story that Pastor Tunde revealed a bible passage (Proverbs 22 vs. 15) to back his claim that a child must be disciplined, to set his ways straight.While the church burst out in laughter, I was taking notes. I took notes because I was never beaten as a child by my parents, but at school I got my share and for emphasis sake I am not against it. I just find the topic fascinating anytime it comes up that you must be disciplined by the rod, else you grow up wayward. That assertion does not sit very well with me and so I decided to express myself in my own words. I believe it is the call of a parent to discipline their child however they feel is right, as long as it is done with a high level of tolerance.I definitely agree that a parent reserves the right to spank their child to reality should he default as truth be told, growing kids are the most manipulative people you can ever come across. From the trickery in their moves when they’ve just st olen a bar of chocolate, to the animated tears that form up immediately they have been caught, parents must face the facts that children are indeed manipulative.What then leads the best way to discipline? I grew up knowing that charity began from our home but even then it took a few strokes on my behind in school to correct some of my errors that could not be detected at home. My understanding of that phrase is that whatever basic values you might need as a child, including discipline, you must first get that experience at home. Not being a parent puts me at a slight disadvantage to this debate, but I have watched my little cousins and nieces and nephews grow and I do understand why this needs to be addressed by public opinion. Therein lies the argument, to beat or not to beat.